Democracy in Russia

President Vladimir V. Putin and his so-called party have used intimidation and abuse of power to cement their hold on the Russian government.

One can't help but wonder if President Bush glimpsed any inkling of this strategy when he met with Mr. Putin for the first time in 2001 and said: ''I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul.'' Mr. Bush then said that he was convinced that Mr. Putin was ''deeply committed'' to ''the best interests of his country.''

Mr. Bush's willful misreading of Mr. Putin's character is yet another example of the Bush administration's practice of governance by wish fulfillment, of basing policy decisions on upbeat but unfounded expectations instead of reality.